The Region
Soaring beyond borders
Malaysia is committed to elevating its higher education landscape to international prominence, implementing a range of strategic measures in recent years to enhance its global appeal.
By Gauri Kohli
"Malaysia now has more TNE students following UK higher education qualifications than any other country besides China or the UK itself."
The Malaysian higher education sector has undergone a gradual transformation in recent years, evolving from a regional player to a dynamic hub of academic excellence and innovation. Just like the country’s traditional Wau Bulan kites, known for their beauty and ability to soar high in the sky, Malaysia’s higher education has also taken flight, attracting students from across the world.
The Malaysian government has played a pivotal role in driving this transformation, introducing several policies and initiatives to boost the higher education sector’s growth and competitiveness.
Measures to give impetus to higher education
One of the key measures undertaken by the government has been the focus on enhancing online learning capabilities. Datuk Parmjit Singh, President, Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities and CEO at Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, says that most higher education institutions in Malaysia have worked to enhance their capability to deliver virtual learning as well as to digitally transform their learning models due to the pandemic.
Singh also highlights that a high-level committee comprising representatives from across stakeholder groups was also established by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) “to ensure all plans and policies are based on current reality and include the importance of a sustainable future”. This move aims to ensure students are well-prepared for the dramatic shifts in the future of work globally, he explains.
The government’s commitment to research and development is evident in the 12th Malaysia Plan, introduced in 2021, which sets a target of 5.2 percent of GDP to be allocated to R&D by 2025. The plan, which has an overall allocation of RM400 billion (US$86 billion), is a complementary phase of the country’s five-year development plan (2021-2025) aimed at achieving the status of a developed and inclusive nation.
Governments also usually have ambitious plans to create regional education hubs to attract top talent and education resources to their countries and Malaysia is no exception. In fact, according to Jazreel Goh, Director Malaysia, British Council, Malaysia is the very first country that welcomed the setting up of transnational education from foreign providers.
“Specifically for the UK, Malaysia now has more TNE students following UK higher education qualifications than any other country besides China or the UK itself,” she tells QS Insights Magazine.
“In the last 30 years, we have seen the growth of private Malaysian schools, colleges and universities, branch campuses of foreign providers setting up in Malaysia and Malaysian public universities themselves investing much more in building their reputation through proactive international strategies that covers recruitment, academic partnerships and also research collaborations.”
Number of intl students in Malaysia in 2022
Number of intl students in Malaysia in 2021
"Scholarships and partnerships with foreign institutions, are essential for achieving these goals and enhancing Malaysia's reputation as a global education hub."
Promising future for the sector
The international higher education in Malaysia is poised for continued growth and success. The interest in studying in Malaysia has bounced back to levels seen before the pandemic, surpassing a set goal of 50,000 applications last year. In 2022, over 51,000 foreign individuals applied to Malaysian universities and colleges, marking a notable increase from approximately 40,000 in 2021 and 30,000 the year prior.
Of these applicants, 85 percent expressed interest in pursuing degree-level studies and more than 50 percent were interested in higher degrees. Particularly noteworthy is the surge in international applications for PhD programmes, nearly doubling in the span of two years, while the demand for master's level courses nearly tripled.
Taking into account that each student spends about RM45,000 (US$9,600) a year on tuition fees, food and lifestyle, international higher education is regarded as among one of the major export sectors in Malaysia.
Looking ahead, the international education sector in Malaysia stands at the threshold of substantial opportunities and growth. Several key factors contribute to this positive outlook including diverse academic offerings, emphasis on research and innovation in Malaysian universities through investments in cutting-edge research facilities and fostering an innovation-friendly environment.
Singh adds that the Malaysian government, as outlined in the higher education blueprint, has also set ambitious targets for international student enrolment. “Continued support and strategic initiatives, including scholarships and partnerships with foreign institutions, are essential for achieving these goals and enhancing Malaysia's reputation as a global education hub,” says Singh.
In the 2023 budget, the Malaysian government allocated RM15.3 billion (US$3.3 billion) for the MoHE. This substantial financial push reflects a clear recognition of the pivotal role education plays in national development.
In tandem with the global shift towards digitalisation, the government has earmarked RM35 million (US$7.5 million) to improve internet access at all public universities through the Malaysian Research and Education Network programme. The government has further allocated a substantial RM428 million (US$91.8 million) to the MoHE and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry to promote research and development activities.
Malaysia has emerged as a key destination for higher education, hosting an impressive cohort of over 140,000 international students hailing from diverse regions such as Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
The Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, recently announced the government’s plans to introduce a long-term social visit pass tailored for international students who have completed their studies. This strategic move aligns to meet the demand for skilled labour in various industries, recognising the valuable contributions that international graduates can make to Malaysia's workforce.
“Anticipating the positive impact of this new policy, it is expected to catalyse a surge in local university applications from international students in the coming months,” says Singh.
“As Malaysia continues to develop its higher education offerings, there is still lots to share, to learn, to come up with new ideas and initiatives including more student exchanges, research collaborations, more TNE, joint development of courses such as micro-credentials and also more academic and faculty collaborations that would boost knowledge exchange and support professional development of academic staff,” says Goh.
"Managing this dynamic effectively is crucial for Malaysia to maintain its unique position in the global education landscape."
Challenges that need to be addressed
Despite its remarkable progress, the Malaysian higher education sector still faces certain challenges. In an increasingly interconnected world, the global flow of students, scholars and ideas is integral to academic excellence. However, this necessitates a delicate balance between global collaboration and preserving the local cultural and educational identity, says Singh. “Managing this dynamic effectively is crucial for Malaysia to maintain its unique position in the global education landscape,” he adds.
As per a 2022 UNESCO National Commission report on the Malaysian higher education sector, COVID-19 poses some challenges to the higher education ecosystem such as lack of access to proper infrastructure and a widening digital divide. Other challenges like the sustainability of private higher education institutions and lack of coordination among technical and vocational educational training providers have persisted long before the pandemic. To cope with these obstacles, MoHE has designed several strategic interventions such as developing the Higher Education Digitalisation Plan (HEDP); setting up the National TVET Council and initiating a special task force to facilitate the private institutions.